Veil

A thin piece of cloth worn over the face or head for modesty or protection.

Wedding dress and veil (Beit Jebrin, northwest of Hebron)
Wedding dress and veil (Beit Jebrin, northwest of Hebron) (© Trjames, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Veil

About Veil

The veil was a thin piece of cloth worn over the face. The material would be sufficiently thin that the wearer would be able to see through it if it covered the eyes (unlike the illustration here), but others would find it difficult to recognize the facial features through the veil.

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Key References

Genesis 24:65

and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.

Exodus 34:33

When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Isaiah 47:2

Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil; strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams.

2 Corinthians 3:14

But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.

All Scripture References (14)

Exodus (3)
Exodus 34:33

When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Exodus 34:34

But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. And when he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded,

Exodus 34:35

and the Israelites would see that the face of Moses was radiant. So Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

Song of Solomon (4)
Song of Solomon 4:1

How beautiful you are, my darling—how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.

Song of Solomon 4:3

Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon, and your mouth is lovely. Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.

Song of Solomon 5:7

I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city. They beat me and bruised me; they took away my cloak, those guardians of the walls.

Song of Solomon 6:7

Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.

Isaiah (3)
Isaiah 3:19

their pendants, bracelets, and veils;

Isaiah 3:23

and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.

Isaiah 47:2

Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil; strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams.

2 Corinthians (4)
2 Corinthians 3:13

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.

2 Corinthians 3:14

But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.

2 Corinthians 3:15

And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:16

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.